Everything together; couple celebrates milestone

David and Betty Carter married in 1952 after dating for six months. "It was love at first sight," Betty said, giggling as she talked. "We were the same age, 18-1/2. My birthday is in May and David's is in June."

"It was love at first sight," Betty said, giggling as she talked. "We were the same age, 18-1/2. My birthday is in May and David's is in June."

Today, on 12-12-12, they are celebrating their 60th anniversary.

A milestone made even more special by the repetition of numbers.

Their daughter, Barbara Bumgardner, said her parents always do everything together.

"They worked together, went to church together," she said. "They have a love for each other. Their summers consist of working in the garden and putting up their vegetables. They've influenced me by the work they do. They raised us to work."

David and Betty are 78 years old and in good health. He's a diabetic, but that doesn't keep them from planting a garden at their home near Polkville. This summer they canned 324 quarts of beans and put up peas, corn, tomatoes and tomato juice. She's putting collard greens in the freezer now.

They both worked at J.P. Stevens and then Stonecutter. They used to ride to work together, Betty said. He worked 26 years at J.P. Stevens and she worked 17. He retired after 19 years at Stonecutter and she after 18.

"We've just had a good life together," Betty said, giggling again. "We trust one another and love one another."

She was glad her husband never took a drink.

"I never would have stayed with a drinking man," she said.

The Carters have two other children, Kathy Sentell and David Franklin Carter Jr. They have 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

David's secret to a long marriage -- "I guess I listened to her, and liked her good cooking."

"I love her more now than I ever did," he said.

Others celebrating milestones on 12-12-12:

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